Floor-cleaning machine.



E. J. STEWART.

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, m4 RENEWED JULY 24.19161 1338,8212? Patented July 1?, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- IIIHNH I i E. J. STEWART.

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1914. RENEWED JULY 24. 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- E. J. STEWART. FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATLQN FILED FEB. 24, 19H. RENEWED JULY 24. l9l6. mmm

1917. 4 SHEETS--SHEET 3- Patented July 17,

i av E E w 4 IQI u Patented J lily 17, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 E. J. STEWART.

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1914. RENEWED JULY 24.1916. LQ33MQQW UNITED strains rainur onnion.

EMMOR J. STEWART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLOOR-CLEANING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentcdiluly 1'7, 191W.

Application filed February 24, 1914, Serial No. 520,394. Renewed July 24, 1916. Serial No. 111,056.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EMMOR.J. STEWART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor-Cleaning Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to the type of floor cleaning apparatus set forth in Letters Patent No. 853,525, issued to me -May 14th, 1907, and Letters Patent No. 1,128,384 issued to me February 16, 1915, in which an electrically driven scrubbing brush is rotated in a direction opposite to that of the line of travel, which latter may be reversed without turning the apparatus around.

The present invention relates to the construction and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed specifically, whereby the motor and operative parts are supported on side frames independent of the reversible activity levers, whereby the splash aprons are cleaned, and whereby the construction and operation of the apparatus is simplified, stabilized and rendered most effective.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1, is a top view of my improved floor cleaning apparatus, the handle and portions of the side levers being omitted in P Fig. 2, an end view thereof;

Fig. 3, a side view;

Fig. 4, a transverse central vertical sectional elevation;

Fig. 5, a sectional elevation upon plane of line 55, Fig- 4, looking in the direction of the arrow 5*.

Fig. 6, a sectional elevation upon plane of line 55*, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow 6".

Fig. 7,a sectional elevation upon plane of line 7-7 Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow 7*.

Fig. 8, a sectional elevation showing modifications in the construction;

Fig. 9, is a sectional detail of the side lever shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a detail showing means for holding down the depression rod by which the liquid valves are operated;

Fig. 11, a sectional detail of the opposite side lever, showing upon an enlarged scale the axial structure;

Fig. 12, is a sectional detail showing means for adjusting the motor platform;

Fig. 13, is a sectional detail showing the method of supporting the splash aprons.

In the drawings for convenience and simplicity the machine is shown in the medial or upright position resting on the central traction rollers only. In use the machine is slightly inclined in one direction or the other, resting upon said central traction rollers and the caster traction rollers at one end or the other of the machine. This slight inclination in use is provided for the purpose of lowering the advance apron into contact with the floor, or nearly so, in order that the spatter from the brush may be fully collected and diverted into the forward receiving compartment.

The side members a, m, of the frame are united by a platform 6, having drop or bracket flanges b, 6, upon and between which the brush B, is mounted in bearings 6 6 The motor M, is mounted upon the platform I), and is connected with and actuates the brush B, through the-medium of the sprocket chain m, and sprocket gears m, and b the latter being mounted on the brush shaft and the former m, on the motor shaft. The motor M, and brush B, being thus mounted and connected in permanent relationship to each other, such relationship will not be affected by the adjustment of to be treated. This vertical adjustment of the brush is effected by adjusting the platform 6, upon the side members a, a, by any suitable means as may be found most expedient. Thus in the construction shown in the drawings the side members a, a", are formed with vertically elongated slots a, a, through which pass screw studs 6*, 6 projecting from the bracket flanges b, b, or the platform I), the nuts (1 12 which engage with the outer threaded ends of the studs 6 b bearin against the outer surfaces of the side mem ers a, an, and affording means whereby the platform may be secured'in a prescribed position. Obviously the screw studs Z), 6, might be threaded bolts screwing into the platform, the heads of the bolts performing the same function as the nuts 6 b The side frames a, a are each provided with three bearing rollers, a central one d mounted by preference in a recess in the bottom edge of the side member, and on which the frame rests under all conditions of use, and end caster rollers a a mounted on extension arms a, a*,it being understood "that the apparatus is reversible so that the caster rollers a 4?, will be alternately front or rear bearing rollers according to the direction in which the apparatus is propelled. The caster rollers a a are also so mounted on the extensions a, a, as to rest on the floor only alternately as the frame is rocked in either direction upon the central rollers a as a fulcrum. This rocking or tilting of the frame is effected through the medium of the side levers 0, c, which also afford means whereby the machine may be propelled in either direction,said levers being pivotally attached to the side members as at 0 and the side members being formed with stops a a which limit the swing of the levers in either direction.

The side levers c, 0, are rigidly connected at or near their upper extremities by a cross member 0 which acts as the handle of the machine. portion of each side lever a, c, are hollow, metallic tubes being preferably used for the purpose. In the case of the side levers c, c, the lower ends of these tubes fit upon solid fulcrum arms 0*, 0*, which are pivotally attached to the side members a, a".

R, R, are reservoir members containing chambers r, r, for holding the water or other liquid to be fed to the brush B. These reservoir members rest on flanges a, a, on the lower inner edges of the side members a, a), as well as upon the extensions a, a thereof, the reservoir members being aformed with external lugs 1", 1", for this latter purpose. Together the reservoir members form an arched casing for the operatix e parts both above and below the platform I), and those mounted on the inner sides of the side members a, (1". Their upper portions are formed with abutting walls 1'21, and these are held together medially by the funnel F, which is formed with an inverted U shaped cross member 7, which straddles said upper walls a, 1' as shown particularly in Fig. 5,-the upper portion of each reservoir being formed with a flanged opening ,1' 1", for the accommodation of the sides of the funnel F. The lower portions of the reservoir members R, R, are formed with splash receptacles 1", 1", adjacent to which are arranged the aprons d, d, interposed between-said receptacles and the brush B, and inclined in such manner as to act as conduits to the splash receptacles r, 1", while shielding the adjacent advance floor surface.

The reservoir sections R, R, fit snugly between the side members a, a", and help to reinforce and sustain them inposition, coun- The cross bar 0 and the main sections R, R, the funnel F, is lifted clear of the walls 7, 1' when the said sections R, R, may be readily lifted from their supports on the side members a, (1*, to give access to the operative parts, empty the splash receptacles, or for other reasons. They may be thus removed or replaced without disturbing the other parts of the apparatus.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the reservoir sections R", R are united in one integral structure, with the exception of the splash receptacles 1", 1", which in this case are made in the form of removable drawers which may be drawn out horizontally for the purpose of emptying and replaced without otherwise disturbing the reservoir sections. In-this construction the funnel F", is formed integral with the reservoir walls; and in either structure the funnel F, is provided with a straining screen f", to eliminate from the liquid introduced any matter that might clog the valves or sprinkling pipes. In this modification the central traction wheels M, are omitted, the machine resting and traveling flat on the end traction rollers 21 a, so'marked to distinguish them from the corresponding caster traction rollers a, in the other figures.

The distributing valves 4), o, are attached to the lower inner edges of the reservoirs R, R, adjacent to one of the side members a, a", the latter a, being shown in the drawing as supporting the mechanism for actuating said valves. The latter communicate with their respective reservoirs, and with the perforated sprinkler pipes s, s, the distributing holes in which latter are arranged to shed the liquid between the aprons (l, d, and the brush B, or against the latter as preferred,said sprinkler pipes s, 8, extending preferably the whole length of the brush B, and being supported upon the under sides of the liquid chambers r, 1', or adjacent thereto.

The distributing valves 4;, 'v, are shown more or less symbolically in the drawings as formed each with a valve rod 4), held normally in raised position to close the valve by a spring '0 To depress the valve rod 42, open the valve, and admit liquid to the sprinkling pipe 8, a spring plunger 1), is provided, actuated in turn by a depression. rod 6, mounted upon and in the side lever 0. Each distribution valve 4;, o, is of course provided with its own spring plunger p, the upper ends of the two converging centrally so that when the plunger rods p, p, are in their normal raised positions their upper ends extend toward and are in line with the fulcrum 0, of said lever c, as will be seen by reference more particularly to Fig. 7

the plunger rods being feathered in the upper bearings a", a, so as to prevent their turning therein, as indicated by the splines p, p, in said figure. Both the upper and the lower bearings a, a, and a, a are formed in lugs on the inner side of the side member a and maintain the lower ends of the plunger rods p, p, in alinement with the valve stems. plunger rod p, is interposed between its lower bearing a, and a collar 10, on the rod, said spring tending constantly to force the rod upward with the collar 10, resting against the under side of the upper bearing a ,this being the normal position of the parts with the valve closed.

en the side lever 0', is turned to one side or the other of the machine resting upon one or the other of the shoulders a, (1 on the side member a, the lower end 6*, of the depression rod 6, is in alinement with the inclined upper portion p", of one or the other of the spring plungers p, as indicated by solid and dottedlines in Fig. 7, so that the downward thrust of the depression rod e, in either reversed position will actuate the spring plunger 12, on'the then forward side of the machine to open the distributing valve 41, on that side and dispense liquid to the forward side of the brush.

The depression rod 6, is formed with an ofi-set e, at its lower extremity to straddle the top of the side member a", and the reservoir members R, R, are recessed adjacent thereto as shown at T Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, to admit of the requisite swing of the side lever 0, from one side of the machine to the other as indicated by dotted.lines in Figs. 5

, and 7. The depression rod 6, is shown in detail in vFig. 9, by reference to which it .will be seen that the, main portion of the depression rod 6, is contained within the upper tubular portion of the lever c, the ofiset e, protruding through a longitudinal slot 0*, therein, and that a spring 6 is interposed between the shoulder or cross bar a of the rod e, and the upper end of the solid fulcrum arm a", forming the lowerportion of the lever 0. This spring e tends constantly to force the rod 6, upward and maintain it in its normal position with the cross bar e of the oflset 6, against the upper end'wall of the longitudinal slot 0". In this position the lower end 6", of the depression rod 6, will just clear the upper ends p", of the spring plungers 10, when the lever a, is swung back or forth, and when the lever c, is at rest in either position, the lower extremity e", of the depression rod 6, will thus be in position to immediately de- 1 press the spring plunger p, when it is itself depressed against the resistance of the spring 6 This depression is effectedby pushing down the knob 6 on the upper end of the rod 6, which protrudes above the end A spring W, on each that the distribution valve a, will be held open and liquid will be supplied from the tank 1', through the sprinkler pipe 5', to the brush. When the knob or button e*, is released the spring e will return the depression rod 6, automatically to its normal posie tion, releasing the plunger, p, so that its spring 10 will raise it until its collar p again contacts with the bearing lug a, releasing the valve rod 0, and allowing its spring '0 to close the valve '0, and shut off the liquid supply. By keeping the thumb of one or the other hand in contact with the knob c, it is obvious that the operator may controlthe fiow of liquid at will, varying it more or less by opening orclosing the valve 0, more or less, and shutting it off entirely for instance whenthe machine is standing still, or about to be reversed in direction of travel. For instance when the machine is pushedslowly over the surface to be cleaned less fluid will be required than if traveling at a rapid rate of speed; and it may be desired to use the brush in a nearly dry state under certain conditions of use, as inpolishing floor surfaces, &c. In fact the machine is ractically a sweeper and may be used as suc the degree of moisture imparted to the brush being only sufficient V to lay the dust and insure its deposit in the locking the rod 6, in its depressed position when desired, as where the machine is used in lon halls or corridors and the flow of liquid 1s to be continuousand uniform. This may be accomplished by various well known mechanical expedients, as by a pivoted lever or clasp 6 as illustrated in Fig. 10, or equivalent device,the upward pressure of the spring 6 in the illustration shown in said figure being sufficient tomaintain the engagement of the overlapping end. of the clasp 6 with the button or knob 6, until the lever 6 is turned forcibly to release the depression rod.

The splash aprons d, d, are pivotally supported upon and between the side members a, a being formed at their ends with trunnions d, d, fitting in slots a, a, formed for their reception in the inner sides of said brush, approximately at least, so that the aprons may be drawn into contact with the peripheral surface of the brush when it is desired to clean them, as for instance to prevent drip when the machine is stopped prior to reversal, discontinuation of use, or like purpose. In other words, while the aprons d, (1, rest normally out of contact with the brush, resting against'the adjacent sides of the splash receptacles 1", or other stationary part, provision is made for bringing either of them into contact with the brush while the latter is in motion thereby causing it to clean'the apron,the apron to be subjected to this treatment being the advance apron,

' or one in front of the brush as the machine is propelled in either one direction or the other as the case may be,it being remembered that the rotation of the brush B, is against the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow in 'Fig. 8, so that the rotating brush and centrifugal force Will precipitate the splash over the apron and into the splash receptacle 1'. Under these conditions it is evident if the apron is drawn into contact with the rotating brush all possible drip thereon will be wiped ofl' into the receiver 1', and when the apron is again released, provided the discharge of fluid has been stopped in the interim, there need be no drip on the floor surface. when the machine is brought to a stop. The contacting of either splash apron d, d, with the brush B, for the purpose above set forth may be effected in various ways, and I do not limit myself to the means shown and described herein although said means are simple and eflective,

consisting essentially of flexible connections h, b, one attached medially of the length of each apron d, from which it extends to, and

is threaded over suitable guide pulleys h,

if, h finally connecting wlth one arm ofa rock lever i, fulcrumed in the side member a", and having an external crank arm 71', by which it may be rocked through the medium of another flexible connection 7?, connected therewith and extending along the outer side of the lever 0, into convenient proximity to the handle, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus by pulling the cord or connection 11 the lever 2', W111 be rocked sufficiently to lift the front apron into contact with the brush as and for the purpose before stated, and-when the connection 2' is re leased, the apron by its own weight will fallback into its normal position, ready to perform its usual function, this return drop of the splash apron d, carrying with it the rock lever a, into position to be utilized in raising either splash apron as may be required in use. It will thus be noted that the inclined convergent bearing slots or recesses a", a",-in the side members a, a", per.- form an important function in controlling and guiding the aprons under all conditions of use; and that the aprons may thus be manipulated without disturbance or interference with any other part of the apparatus. either operative or stationary.

The reservoir sections R, R, when coupled together by the bifurcated funnel F, as hereinbefore described and as shown particularly in Fig. 5, constitute-essentially a duplex reservoir or tank like unto the integral structure shown in Fig. 8, and may be designated as such for convenience of description,the only difference being that in Fig. 8., the duplex tank R, R, and the splash receptacle drawers 1", r, are independently supported on the side members a, a, and removable separately.

The reversal of the handle 0 and side levers 0, 0', also effects the reversal of the motor M, so that the rotation of the brush B,

'will be thereby changed also, to rotate against or opposite to the line of travel of the machine. This may be effected by a switch lever is, rigidly attached to the axis of the side lever 0, and arranged to alternately open and close the electrical terminals in the switch box a, as the side levers c, c, are changed from one position to the other. The electrical switch 92, may be of any desired or well know form of double type of reversing switch, being here shown symbolically, as having the spring push buttons n, n, the depression of either one of which reverses the circuit in the motor. The service wires w, w, connected by the usual electrical cable and socket plug (not shown) with a service line as heretofore pass down through the side lever 0, to and through its trunnion arm 0", which is formed with the conduit 0",for the purpose, and through the axial conduit 0, in the trunnion 0, which axial conduit is extended through the trunnion to facilitate wiring. The cylindrical trunnion 0 is journaled in the side member a, and is integral with the trunnion arm 0", of the lever 0. To its inner end is rigidly keyed the switch lever is, so as to rock therewith when the lever a, is reversed in position,the presser fingers is, k, on said switch lever k, having the same spacing and inclination with relation to each other as that represented by the two ositions of the side lever c, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 6, in which the reversed position is shown in dotted lines. The introduction of the loop service wires w, 'w, axially through the trumnon 0 affords the least possible disturbance'of said wires when the levers c, 0, are reversed. In order to facilitate control of the motor M, a cut-off switch m", may be positioned on the handles", and interposed in aloop of one of the service wires made to extend through said tubular handle to said switch. Thus the full control of the apparatus is placed within convenient reach and control of the person propelling the same by means of the handle c ,e'. e., the power through the cut-off switch m", and reversing switch It, the liquid supply through the but ton or knob e*, on the upper end of the depression rod 0, and the position of the splash aprons d, 03, through the medium of the flexible connection i and rock lever 71. Furthermore it will be seen by reference particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings (Fig. 3, being essentially a duplicate of the other side of the machine, the only difference-being the absence of the rock lever crank arm 11, and flexible connection 2'2) that externally the apparatus is very plain,

compact and unobtrusive,there being practically no operative parts exposed and little or no protuberance beyond the contour or outline of the reservoir sections R, R, other than that of the side levers 0, c, and handle 0 In fact the apparatus is essentially and practically self-contained in the sense that substantially all the operative parts are isolated and rotected from contact with extraneous ol fjects, and this is an important feature in apparatus of this class. It not only affords protection and long life and service in so far as the machine is concerned, but it also obviates the danger of damage to walls, furniture, &c., during the use of the machine, and adapts the latter for use in spaces and under conditions affording comparatively limited area for manipulation.

The elimination of drip from the splash apron when the machine is stopped is also an important factor in practical use, since the stoppage for reversal of travel or other purpose has heretofore inevitably resulted in a line of dirty drip deposited by the forward apron upon the floor or other surface under treatment, and when going in the opposite direction the drip from the rear apron would drop on the floor behind the brush, which drip had to be wiped up or otherwise removed by hand.

Another distinctive feature of my presentconstruction as compared with that disclosed in my concurrent application herein before referred to is that in the present case the motor, tanks, splash receptacles, &c., are not supported upon the reversing levers and do not have to be lifted over thereby in reversing the direction of travel. Hence less labor is involved in the use of the machine,

so that it may be conveniently and successfully operatedby minors and females, be-

, ing thereby more fully adapted for domestic use as well as for public buildings and institutions. It is also more simple and inexpensive in construction, more durable, and less liable to derangement, or to require readjustment, And in this respect the mounting of the motor and brush and intermediate connections on one adjustable part or platform simplifies the adjustment for the purpose of compensating for the wear of the brush.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In apparatus of the character desigsite sides of said platform.

2. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of side members, traction rollers mounted thereon, a platform mounted upon'and between said members by means which admit of its vertical adjustment thereon, a motor and a rotatable brush mounted on said adjustable platform in fixed relation to each other, intermediate means for transmitting power from said motor to said brush, duplex fluid-containing means upon opposite sides of said platform.

3. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination with the side members, connecting intermediate platform, and motor and brush mounted thereon, said platform being vertically adjustable, of a duplex fluid reservoir removably supported upon said side members and straddling the platform and operative parts, for the purpose described.

4. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination with the side members, connecting intermediate platform, and motor and brush mounted thereon, of a duplex fluid reservoir made in two tank sectwo tank sections together, for the purpose described.

6. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of a cylindrical brush, means for rotating the same, a splash apron arranged in conjunction with said brush to conduct the splash to a receptacle, said receptacle, and means for temporarily lifting and holding the splash apron against the periphery of the brush, for the purpose described:

7 In apparatus of the character designated, the' combination of a cylindrical brush, means for rotating the same, a splash apron loosely mounted and arranged in conjunction therewith to conduct the splash to a receptacle, said receptacle, a flexible conneetion attached at one extremity to the apron and at the other to a bell crank lever,

and means for rocking the latter, for the purpose described. I

8. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of a cylindrical brush, a splash apron interposed between said brush and said receptacle and formed with end trunnions loosely mounted in elongated slot bearings in the side members of the frame, said bearing slots being inclined upward toward the axis of the brush, a flexible connection attached at one end medially to the splash apron and at the other to a bell crank lever, and means for rocking the latter, for the purpose described.

9. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of a cylindrical brush, means for rotating the same, splash receptacles on either side of said brush, splash aprons interposed between said brush and said receptacles, each apron formed with end trunnions loosely mounted in elongated slot bearings in the side members of the frame, said bearing slots being inclined upward toward the axis of the brush, flexible connections medially attached to the aprons and connecting them with a, rock lever common to both, and means for rocking said lever, whereby the aprons may be alternately brought into contact with the periphery of the brush, for the purpose described.

10. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of a cylindrical brush, a motor for rotating the same, liquid reservoirs mounted one on each side of said brush and motor, a distributing valve and sprinkler pipe for each reservoir, spring plungers arranged to control the action of said valves, a lever pivoted medially between said spring plungers, and a depression rod mounted on said lever and adapted to operate said sprin plungers alternately for the purpose descri ed.

11. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of a cylindrical brush, a motor for rotating the same, liquid reservoirs, one mounted on either side of said brush and motor, a distributing valve and sprinkler pipe for each reservoir, spring plungers arranged to control the action of said valves, a lever pivoted medially between said spring mounted on sand lever and adapted to operate said spring plungers, a spring which tends to hold said. depressionrod in its normal retracted position, and a clamping device for holding said depression rod down temporarily against the resistance of said spring, for the purpose described.

12. In apparatus of the character desig nated, the combination of side members, a

lungers, a depression rod cylindrical brush, an electrical motor for rotating the same, mounted between said side members, liquid reservoirs mounted one on each side of said brush and motor, a distributing valve and sprinkler pipe for each reservoir, spring plungers arranged to control the action of said valves, a lever pivoted on one side member medially between said spring plungers, a depression rod mounted on said lever and adapted to operate said spring plungers alternately, a spring which tends to hold said depression rod in its normal retracted position, a lever pivotally connected to the opposite side member in axial alinement with the first mentioned side lever and connected therewith by a cross handle bar, and a reversing switch actuated by said second lever to reverse the electric motor simultaneously with the reversalof the liquid supply, for the purpose described.

13. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of side members, a cylindrical brush, an electric motor for rotating the same mounted between said side members, liquid reservoirs mounted on said side members, one on each side of said brush and motor, a distributing valve and sprinkling pipe for each reservoir, spring plungers arranged to control the action of said valves, a lever pivoted on one side member medially-between said spring plungers, a depression rod mounted on said lever and adapted to operate said spring plungers, a spring which tends to hold said depression rod in its normal retracted position, a lever pivotally connected to the opposite side member in axial alinement with the first mentioned lever and connected therewith by a cross handle bar, a reversing switch actuated by said second lever to reverse the electric motor simultaneously with the reversal of the liquid supply, and a cut-off switch on said cross bar handle interposed in the electric service circuit, splash receptacles on either side of the brush, splash aprons mova'bly supported and interposed between said splash receptacles and the brush, flexible connections connecting said splash aprons with a common bell crank lever, and an operative connection extendin from said bell crank lever along one si e lever into proximate relationship to the said cross bar handle whereby the operation of the apparatus may be completely controlled by an operator at the handle of the machine, for the purpose described.

ELEMOR J. STEWART. Witnesses:

GEO. WM. Mm'i'r, DOROTHY Mmtrr. 

